White House’s briefing by Jeff Zients, White House COVID-⁠19 Response Coordinator:

“As we’ve explained in prior briefings, the Omicron variant is more transmissible and our medical experts anticipate it will lead to a rise in cases.

But unlike last winter, we now have the power to protect ourselves.

Our vaccines work against Omicron, especially for people who get booster shots when they are eligible. If you are vaccinated, you could test positive. But if you do get COVID, your case will likely be asymptomatic or mild.

We are intent on not letting Omicron disrupt work and school for the vaccinated. You’ve done the right thing, and we will get through this.

For the unvaccinated, you’re looking at a winter of severe illness and death for yourselves, your families, and the hospitals you may soon overwhelm.”

Yeah, that sounds ike a government that represents ALL the people, right? That doesn’t sound like an us vs. them mentality, right?

Now, President Joe Biden is set to double down on this kind of rhetoric in a speech tomorrow night.

NY1 reports that “President Joe Biden on Tuesday will address the nation about how his administration plans to fight a surge in omicron cases raging around the United States, and he’s expected to double down on a warning to unvaccinated Americans that they face a potentially deadly winter ahead.”

A warning even though every scientific report I’ve seen seems to tell us that Omicron isn’t stopped by the vaccines. Never mind that. Just do what ol’ Joe says. He knows best.